Forney ISD STEAM Camps are the Hot Ticket for Students this Summer

Forney ISD is holding a number of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) camps for students during the summer break. To date, a total of five camps have been conducted at Forney ISD campuses and two more will be completed before the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.

One of the camps, the Steel Drum Camp involved students learning and performing five songs. The camp was held at Johnson Elementary School.

Another camp that recently concluded was the Middle School Musical Theatre Camp. Students learned an abbreviated version of Annie and performed the play in front of a large crowd on Thursday, June 22.

The Forney ISD Forensics Camp challenged students to learn multiple fingerprinting techniques, shoe castings, and other clue and fact-finding procedures. The students also participated in role playing activities as police, medics and even criminals. Students also investigated the genetics of why and how people have certain fingerprints.

The District is offering two Art Camps this summer. During the first Art Camp, which was held June 12-15, students made prints using Styrofoam, card stock and paint. They also tie-dyed their camp shirts. The second Art Camp, which is scheduled for June 26-29, the students will make paper mache animals.

Forney ISD also offered a Chess Camp this summer where students learned the basics of how to play chess. By the end of the camp, students were sparring and learning how to think multiple moves ahead of their opponent.

Perhaps the most popular camp offered through the STEAM Camps is the Cupcake Camp. The District originally planned to hold just one Cupcake Camp, but due to popular demand, a second camp was added. The first camp sold out in less than two days so a second camp was added which sold out in less than one day.

During the Cupcake Camps, students learn basic baking techniques while also applying their knowledge of fractions and proportions.

Some of the camps will be held in July. One of those camps will be the Engineering/Mini-craft Camp where students will first build a structure in Computer Aided Design (CAD) while, at the same time, learning how the CAD program works. The students will then actually build their structures in real life.

A second session of the Forensics Camp will also be held in July as well as a Theater Camp for elementary students which will include a performance at the end of the camp. A two-week Ukulele Camp will also be held in July that will also have an end of camp performance.

Overall, Forney ISD offered a total of 16 sessions of 10 different camps. All of the camp instructors are Forney ISD teachers and the larger camps also had student helpers from both Forney High School and North Forney High School.

More than 300 students registered for the Forney ISD STEAM camps this year which also included students from outside of Forney ISD. The District is looking forward to making the STEAM Camps a regular option for student summer camps each year.